The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-01-05

-------
ever, are quite as often suggested for
the second place on the ticket. There
is vast deal of Blaine sentiment in
Indiana and Iowa, as well as through
out the West. Mr.. Blaine also has
great strength in Ohio, which was
augmented by his splendid canvass in
that state in 1884 and because of his
effective championship of protection.
The Boston Herald, a paper that
cannot be charged with entertaining
any friendly feeling toward Mr.. Blaine,
views the present situation quite clearly
and candidly. 1t argues that while
Logan and Sherman together might
have kept the West, in some of its
states, out of the Blaine column, Shsr-
man alone is not equal to this. He
does not represent that section, as did
Logan; he does not receive the SYM
patty of its stalwarts, as does Blaine"
The Herald acknowledges Sherman's
statesmanlike qualities, but concludes
that his inability to invoke popular en-
thusiasm is against him. On the whole,
it believes that " the political prospects
of Mr.. Blaine are more improved by
the death of General Logan than they
could have been by the removal of any
other opposition in his own party"
1t is perhaps due to the WATCuMAN
to say right here that it is not in any
sense a especial " or authorized :"
representative of the so-called " Blaine
interest," as has been talked for some
months past in the field where it circu-
lates. The WATCHN1AN will cheerfully
support any presidential candidate
whom the majority of the republican
party may select, if he is sterling re-
publican, whether it be Blaine. Sher-
man, Allison, Harrison or Lincoln; but
it believes that Mr.. Blaine would be
the strongest candidate of them ALL 1t
has never been demonstrated how the
republican party could be more sue
cessful with any other candidate. 1t
is true that to win back the mugwumps
we might choose another candidate, but
a nomination that would suit the mug
wumps might result in the alienation
of a large faction from the party that
have no sympathy with mugwump
principles and aims. When the re-
publican party undertakes to conciliate
all of its dissatisfied elements it will
attempt the impossible.
Now Mr. Blaine, aside from his pre-
eminent ability and qualifications, can
command more elements of popular
support than any other leading re-
publican in the country. And yet it is
urged that the republicans should select
a candidate who will attract mugwump
support. Even if this were desirable
it might not be practicable. The OPP
position of the mugwumps to Mr..
Blaine in 1884 was ostensibly based
upon alleged questionable transac-
tons " in his public life. They claimed
that it was question of morals. Yet
the same mugwumps did not scruple to
support Mr.. Cleveland, even afterthe
moral baseness of his private character
had been self-confessed. The reasons
given by the great majority of mug
wumps for their opposition to Mr..
Blaine were a sham and a delusion.
When we reflect that this faction, for
the most part, is made up of advocates
and disciples of British free trade, of
the British civil service system and of
British governmental theories and prin-
ciples generally, the real grounds of
their hostility to Mr.. Blaine are fully
disclosed, for he is a conspicuous repre-
sentative of American principles and
policies, of American theories of gov
eminent and of its administration.
Senator Sherman is no less strong
protectionist than Mr.. Blaine; neither
is Senator Harrison, neither is Senator
Allison. We are quite unable to see
how the mugwump free-traders could
be expected to support any one of these
men, unless they made it simply a
question of men and not of principles.
1t will be found that there are many
difficulties in the way of conciliating
the mugwumps, and it seems hardly
worth while for the republican party
to make any great sacrifices, either of
men or of principles, on their account.
THE first measure of importance to
come up in the senate this week is the
interstate commerce bill. The Wash